Compressed-air water elevator



Oct- 20, 1925. 1,558,273

T. PETERS COMPRESSED AIR WATER ELEVATOR mm; Jan. 14', 1925 :5 Sheds-Sheet 1.

2 ,n v a d a .W F m V 9 mw Oct. 20,1925.

1: PETERS com nssszn AIR WATER ELEVATOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 14 1925 Oct. 20, 1925.

A "r. PETERS- OOIPRBSSED AIR WATER ELEVATOR 3 Sheets-$110015 s 'Fma Jan. 14 1925 I Am VIII/l4 gmaptoz 6mm u Patented (let. 20, 1925.

UN?! TAPES raven '1 crew a.

THEODORE PETERS, OE FERDINAND, INDIANA.

COMPRESSED-AIR warren nrn-varoa.

"Application fi1ed January 1 0 all whom it. may concern Be it known ,thatl, Tnnoooms Pn'rnns, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ferdinand, inrthe county of Dubois and State of Indiana, haveinvented certainnew and useful ln'iprovements inCompressed-Air ater Elevators, of which the following is a specification.

flhisinventionrelates to certain new and useful improvements in compressed air water elevators and has particular reference to devices of this kindremploying a plu- 'alit-y of cylinders front which water is forced, the water. being, forced from one cylinderwhile the otherfis filling, so that a con tinuous. stream of water or flowthereot is secured through the discharge'line.

'll1e .primary. object of the invention is to generally simplify and ,in iprove the construction of compressed air waterelevators or air lift pumps disclosed in my United States Letters Fatah-1,077,997 dated November 11, .1913.

In the construction shown in my above mentioned patent the-valves close in a di rection opposite tot-he'flowot compressed air. so that, the .valve' operating mechanism had to act againstlthe pressureof this air, resulting in V a very unreliable operation. 7

It is accordinglyan objector thepresent invention to overcome. this defect b'y devising ,a valve arrangement and structure of valve operating fmechanism whereby the valves may close in the direction in which the compressed air. flows so thatsuch comp ressedair aids the valvesin seating tightly in the operation .of the .device.

Another object of the invention isto provide avalve operating mechanism for compressed. air ;-water elevators of the above kind, in which the'number of movable and relatively movable parts is .reducedto a minimum and wherein a miniinum depent once is placed upon theuse ofundesirahle parts such as springs which may readily get out of order.

Theinvention contemplates the provision of a pair of cylinders fromwhich the water :rr ected hyiedn itting compressed air to one 14,1925. Serial No 2,419.

cylinder while maintaining its exhaust port closed, at the sametime preventing admission of air to the other cylinder while maintaining the exhaust porto'f the latter open. A further objector" the invention. is to provide improved, simplified and quick acting means tor automatically shiitingthese alves to etlect the above operation by the utilization of power derived from the raising and falling oi afloat caused by the tilling and emptying of one of the cylinders.

Still another object of the invention is to 6 provide means whereby the actuation of the valves through the riseand "falljofthe -float is made quite positive, and "whereby the valves are etl'ectively maintainedagainst-accidental displacement from either of their shifted positions.

With the above general objectsin view and others that will become apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel to m, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings and claimed.

.lnthe drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts through the several views, i I

Figure '1 is a front elevational view, partly broken'away, of a compressed air water elevating device constructed in accordance with the present invention, the device being shown operatively disposed within a well.

Figure 2 is a-ffragmentary view partly in section and partly in side'elevationshowing the upper portion of the device illustrated in Figure 1 and looking toward the left of the latter figure,

Figure 3 is a rear elevational view otthe device shown in, Figure 2 with certain parts removed to reveal other parts, t

Figure 4t is a front elcvational view otthe device showninflFigure with the front cover plate removed to reveal details of construction, Figure 5 is a view similar to jFigure 8 with the lower rear cover plate in place and the relinovable partitionreinoved from the upper part of the device,

F uretl a substantially central vertical sectional view of the device shown inFlgure 105 2 drawn on astil], larger sc Figure 7 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon line 7-7 of Figure 4,

Figure- 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the valve operating rod or lever,

Figure 9 shows the weighted wheel and adjacent parts in elevation, the view being one looking toward the inner face of the wheel, and the adjacent parts being broken away,

Figure 10 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon line 101O of Figure 1, and

Figure 11 is a section taken on the line 1111 of Figure 10 and drawn on a greatly enlarged scale.

Referring more in detail to the drawings,

the present invention comprises a unit adapted to be bodily submerged in the water as shown in Figure 1, the level of the water being indicated by dotted lines at 5 in this figure, and the structure being supported a suitable distance above the bottom of the well by any suitable means, not shown. The present device or unit consists of a pair of cylinders 6 and 7 which are of different diameters and are adapted to be disposed in a vertical position as shown in Figure 1, the cylinders being rigidly associated by the provision of common closure members 8 and 9 for the tops and bottoms thereof respectively. The closure member 9 has a port forming a bottom inlet for the cylinder 6, which inlet is closed by a dowmvardly seating check valve 10 by means of which water is freely admitted into the cylinder 6 while prevented from flowing out of the same. A similar port is provided to constitute an inlet for the bottom of the cylinder 7 and this portis closed by a valve 11 similar to the valve 10. The cylinders G and T are provided withbottom outlet ports communicating with passages 12 and 1.8 provided in an extension 1 1 provided on the closure member 9 and these passages open into a common outlet chamber 15 secured upon the extension 14 by bolts 16 or thelike. The outlet ends of the passages 12 and 13 are controlled by downwardly seating check valves 17 and 18 respectively by means f which the water flowing hour the cylinders 6 and 7 into the chamber 15 is prevented from returning from said chamber back tothe cylinders, and the chamber 15 is formed preferably in its top wall with an opening or outlet port 19 adapted to be connected to a discharge line 20 that conveys the water pumped from both of the cylinders to the desired point of disposal.

The valve mechanism embodies a casing including a main section 21 having a base 22 which is rigidly secured upon the upper closure member 8 in line with the larger cylinder 6 by means of bolts 23 or the like.

As best siown in Figures 3 and 6, the

main section 21 of the casing is formed in its lower portion with a circular chamber 24, the rear side of which is open and is adapted to be closed by a removable plate 25. The casing section 21 is further formed with another chamber 26 entirely separate from and above the chamber 24-, the chamber 26 also being open at its rear side and adapt ed to be closed by means of a removable partition member 27. Still another chamber 28 is formed in the front of the casing member 21 so as to extend from the top of the latter to a point substantially mid-way of the chamber 2 t, and the lower part of the chamber 28 comn'iunicates with the chamber 24 at the top of the latter as clearly shown in Figure 6, the open front side of the chamber 28 being closed by a removable plate 29. As shown in Figure 6 the casing member 21 is provided. with a passage 29" extending through the base 22 thereof and communicating with chamber 24:, the passage 29 being adapted to overlie a port provided through the upper closure member 8 and opening into the cylinder 6. It is thus apparent that compressed air will flow from the chamber 28 through chamber 21 and passage 29 into the upper end of the cylinder 6.

A casing 80 is secured against the outer side of the partition member 2? so that the latter closes the adjacent open side of said casing 80, and an inlet port 31 is provided through the top of the casing as clearly shown in Figure 6. Formed upon the outer side of the partition member 27 and projecting into the casing 80 are a pair of projections 32 and which have passages that open through the tops of the projectcons 375 and 83 and through the partition 27, the passage of the projection opening into the chamber 26, and the passage of the projec tion 33 being aligned with a passage 8i which is provided in the casing section 21 so as to open into the chaniiber 28. It is thus apparent that compressed air admitted into the casing 30 may pass into chamber 2e or chamber 28 depending upon which projection 32 or 83 has its passage open.

A horizontal shaft 235 is journaled in the casing so as to extend through the chamber 26 with its ends projecting into the casing 30 and the upper end of the chamber 28 as shown in Figure 6, and secured upon the interi'nediate portion of the shaft 35 is an arm 36 which is situated in the chamber :36 and carries a valve head 87 adapted to seat against a seat 38 when the arm 36 is swungupwardly by turning of shaft 3;"). The seat 38 surrounds an exhaust port for chamber 26, such port being provided with a perforated protecting cap 39 by means of which free exhaust of air is permitted while entrance of foreign matter or refuse is eluded. As shown more clearly in. Figures 1 ltd) lit)

and theeha1nber 26 is. provided with a side out-let port lOthat is connected by means of a pipe ilfvtith a top inlet port ii-provided for the cylinder 7.

A cross bar 43 is secured'upon the end of the shaft whithiprojects into the casing 30; and secured upon the ends of the cross bar a3 are valve heads 44 and as'hest shown'in Figure 3. tiheva-lve head er acts to close the passage inthe projection 32 while the "valve head 45 acts "to close the passage in the enlargement or projection 33, tlrGS'Cl'llOtUl'B'bQlIlf-J suchithat when the shaft 35is tilted in one direction the valve head His seated and" the valve head as unseated and vi'ceversa. Itis also noted that when the valvehead 4A is seated to prevent passage e't' cenipressed airtroni the casing 30 into the chamber 26. the valve head 3'? will he unseatedi or 'iermitting exhaust of oomed air from cylinder T through pipe 41. and the r is controlled by the valve head 3?.

he chamber :18 is'provided with an ere ,ust port atihe top thereof generally i l'l ultfiiletl tll l6; and'a seat l-Tiis provided about this port within the chan'iber 28 as best shown infl igurea, a valve headttl being urged to eoact with ithe seat 3H and carfried b ajleteal arrn a l which is formed upon lever 50, the upper GilClO'fWlllCll is ed upon the end" tT-the shaft 35 .vhich projectsinto'the chamber 28. It isnoted when valve head is 'i'niseated toaperr sse d air topass into chamber 'ig-iitl the velveheadtttl will shown in rasure 52 to prevent i of the air tl 'origh the exhaust port 4 the valve head -be ng'seated and 1 ve head unseat d at this time. The heads are rigidly "arranged in this or at allt'iiines.

H entree by the casingsection 21. spesed iii-a horizontal position coint withthe axis of thec'ireiilar eh-aina spindle 51; the rear endof which s Q1101 vided in the closure plate 2:. Revoluhly mounted upon the shaft or snindletl is a wheel 53 to the forward or inner side oi :h is 'll y attached aspur pinion 54, 'i pinion omnieshing with avertica'lly i, isle rackhar which projects into the clian her 242 thi'ough the bottom of the easi119; and which has gitsj lo'wer en d rigidly attached to a float to tliat is'loosely'disposed within the (:yl'iiider (S. The rack bar 55 is eti'eetivelv maintained ininesh with the pinion 54;while freely permitted to slide vertically without undue frictionfhy "the provisien oi. an anti-friction roller "56" that is journaled beside the spindle 51 so as to 2e outer smooth longitudinal edge lltll' iii-F3, tendency of the rack bar 55 to he displaeed laterzitl'lyheing pro enhaustport of chamber lfiwhich vented by the 1 provision of peripheral rib 5T onthe roller56, "which rib engages-in. a*longitudinal groove provided in the adjacent :face of the rack bar 55 as shown clearly in Figure 7.

idsshowniiirFigures 6, 7 and 9,'the wheel 53 is "provided in its inner face and =inwardly of its margin with a circi'ila'r groove 58 in whichis slidablv disposed an adjusting stop plate 59 of areuate form. The stop plate '59inay be rotarily adjusted relative to the'Wheel-53 by means of a bolt 60 which is'rigid with'the plate'59 and projects outwardly through an a'rcuate slot olaprovided in the Wheel 53, the adjustment being maintained-bvin'eans of a nut '62 threaeed upon thebolt 60 and bearing upo'n'the adjacent surface ofthewheel '53.

Upon the lower end of the lever 50- there is brovided ,a rigid rearwardly projeeting lug tl rthe rear free end of WhlCll'lS err-ran ed in the path of movement of the stop plate which moves with the wl1eel58. It is thus obvious that when the "wheel iis rotated in one direetionone'end oi the plate 59 will engage-the lug o8 to swing the lever 50 in one direction While rotation ot the wheel 53in the opposite'jdirection-willcause engagement of the lug 63 133 the other-end otit'l'ie stop plate 59for swinging-theylever 50 in the opposite direction. The wheel "53 is: provided in its inner face with a relatively large margiiial groove 64; of arcuate "form whereby, the iiortion oi the wheel havingthis grooveis reduced in weight, vand the remaining portion of the'wheel is constituted by a segmentalseotion 65 formed of relatively heavy material whereby theFwiiieel is weighteclat thislpoint.

[Projecting forwardly from and rigid-"with the lower end portion of lever 50 is a. second lug 66 in the upper side oi? whi "h is termed a longitudinal groove 6'71 Eleated ioosely in" the groove 67"so as to reel: therein in the direction of movement of the-lever 50*:isa member '68 whose upper end is inou11ted loosely for rocking moven'ient in a groove provided on the under side oil, theiree end of an arm 69 whose other end is" pivotally attached to the cas'i'nglas 7-0 rervertical swinging movement, the arm (39 being pressed toward the lug 66 by means of a spring 71. It is. noted that when the parts are disposed asshown inFis ire l the lever t-l'is' positioned so that the lug 66 isto one de of a vertical plane intersecting the shaft 235 while, when the lever 50 is swung to open van/94s said lever will be disposed. with its lug 66at the opposite side hi sueh'plane so that a'past center device is thus formed by the provision of the inembers' 'oti and 69 so as tohold the lever 50 in either oi its positions and to insure instantaneousin-oveinentoit the lever past center from one position to the "otheraiid viceversa,

Suitable-gaskets 72 are placed between separable parts such as between the casing 30 and the partition section 27 so as to insure air tight joints between these parts, the latter being detachably connected or bolted together as at 73. A pipe 74 is connected to the intake port 31 of the casing 30 for leading compressed air to the latter from any source of supply positioned above or upon the ground at a distant point.

Assuming that the parts are disposed as shown in Figure 1, the water will open valve 10 so as to enter and fill the large cylinder 6, thereby causing the float 56 to rise so that the various parts of the valve mechanism are positioned as shown in the re maining figures. Any suitable control means is then opened for permitting the compressed air to fiow into pipe 74 from which it enters the casing 30 and passes through the passage of the projection 33 by reason of the valve being open, passage of the air through the passage of the projection or lug 32 being prevented by reason of the fact that the valve 44 is closed at this time. The air then passes through passage 34 into chamber 28, through the latter and chamber 24 into the upper end of cylinder 6. It is noted that the air passes through opening 29 about the raclr bar when entering the cylinder 6 and upon reaching the latter it will force the water out-of cylinder 6 into chamber 15 and then outwardly through the discharge line 20, the pressure from above closing the valve 10 at this time. hile the above is taking'place the exhaust port 38 of the chamber 26 is open as shown in Figure 5 so that air may readily pass out of the upper end of cylinder 7 through pipe 41, chamber 26 and outlet port 33. In this way the valve 11 is allowed to open for permitting the water to enter and fill the smaller cylinder 7. As the air forces the water out of the larger cylinder 6 the float 56 automatically lowers so that the rack bar causes rotation of pinion 54 and wheel 53 until an end of stop plate 59 engages the lug 63 of lever 50 for swinging the latter toward the right of Figure 4 and Figure 9. In doing this the weight is carried upwardly from the position of the same shown in Figure 9 until it passes avertical plane intersecting the shaft 51, whereupon said weight 65 will act to increase the speed of rotation of wheel 53 under the action of gravity so that the end of stop plate 59 will strike a blow upon the lug 63 for insuring positive swinging of lever 50 to the right of Figure 4 as before mentioned. lVhen the lever 50 is thus swung to the right of Figure 4 the shaft 35 is rocked so as to seat valve 45 and valve 37 while unseating valves 44 and 48. By this time cylinder 6 has been emptied of water through the discharge line 20 and air is prevented from passing to cylinder 6 but is permitted to pass into cylinder 7 through the passage of the projection or lug 32 and chamber 26 together with pipe 41. The

compressed air then forces the water out of the smaller cylinder 7 through chamber 15 and discharge pipe or line 20, the cylinder 6 again filling atthis time and causing rise of float 56. As the float 56 rises wheel 53 will be rotated so as to bring the other end of stop plate 59 into engagement with lug 63 of lever 50 as shown in Figures 4 and 9 for causing the lever 50 to be shifted to the position shown in Figure 4 wherein the valves 48 and 44 are again closed and the valves 45 and 37 opened. Upon this latter rotation of wheel 53 the weight 65 will pass a vertical plane intersecting shaft 51 and then quickly move to its position shown in Figure 9 so that the end of plate 59 will strike a blow upon the lug 63 of lever 50 for instantaneously shifting the lever 50 to the position shown in Figures 4 and 9. The above operation will automatically continue as long as compressed air is supplied to chamber 30 through supply pipes 74 and as long as the device is submerged in water for filling the cylinders 6 and 7. It is noted that when lever 50 is in one position the exhaust port of the large cylinder is closed while its compressed air supply port is opened, the supply port of the other cylinder being simultaneously closed and having its exhaust port opened. The plate 59 is adjustable relative to wheel 53 so as to insure engagement of the ends of the plate 59 with the lug 63 of lever 50 at the proper time after weight 65 has passed a point in vertical alignment with and above a plane intersecting shaft 51.

From the foregoing description it is believed that the construction and operation as well as the advantages of the present invention will be readily understood and ap preciated by those skilled in the art.

Minor changes may be made without departing from the spirit or the scope of this invention as claimed.

lVhat I claim as new is 1. A compressed air water elevator including a pair of water cylinders communicating with a source of supply of water, each cylinder having a port for the intake and exhaust of air, a casing associated with the water cyl inders and having a plurality of chambers, one of said chambers having an air exhaust port and communicating with the air port of one cylinder, another of said chambers having an air exhaust port and communicating with the air port of the other cylinder, the third chamber being provided with a pair of separate ports respectively communicating with the first and second chambers and having a third port for connection with a. source of compressed-air supply, a pair of valves for controlllngthe pair of portsof the third chamber, separate valves for respectively controlling the airexhaust portsot' the first andsecond named chambers, all of said valves being rigidly related and movably mounted for simultaneously closing the air exhaust port of one chamber and opening the air exhaust port of another chamber while opening the port of the third chamber which leads to the chamber having its air exhaust port closed and closing the port of said third chamber which leads to the chamber having its air exhaust port opened, and vice versa, anda float in one cylinder operatively connected to the valves. i

2. A compressed air water elevatorinclud ing a pair of water cylinders communicating with a source of supply of water, each cylinder having a port for the intake and exhaust of air, a casing associated with the water cylinders and having a plurality o-tt' chambers, one of said chambers having an air exhaust port and communicating with theyair port of one cylinder, another of said chambers having arr air exhaust port and communicating with the air port of the other cylinder, the third chamber being provided with a pair of separate ports respectively communicating with the first and second chambers and having a third port for connection with -a source of compressed air sup ply, a pair of valves for controlling the pair of ports of the third chamber, separate valves for respectively controlling the air exhaust ports of the first and second named chambers, all of said valves being rigidly related and movably mounted for simultaneously closing the air exhaust port of one chamber and opening the air exhaust port of another chamber while opening the port of the third chamber which leads to the chamber having its air exhaust port closed and closing the port of said third chamber which leads to the chamber having its air exhaust port opened, and vice versa, and a float in one cylinder operatively connected to the valves, all of said valves being arranged to move in the direction of flow of air in seating.

3. A compressedair water elevator including a pair of water cylinders communicating with a source of supply of water, each cylinder having a port for the intake and exhaust of air, a casing associated with the water cylinders and having a plurality of chambers,

one of said chambers having an air exhaust port and communicating with the air port of one cylinder. another of said chambers having an air exhaust port and communicating with the air port of the other cylinder, the third chamber being provided with a pair of separate ports respectively communicating with the first and second chambers and having a third port for connection with a source of compressed air supply, a single rock shaft, a pluralityof arms rigid with the rock shatt,one arm having a valve for controlling the air exhaust port: of one chamber, another arm having a valve for controlling the air exhaust port of another chamber, and the remaining. arms having. valves for controlling theseparate ports ot thet hird chambar which. communicate respectively witlrthe first and second named chambers, and: a. float in one cylinder operatively connected with the rock shaft for actmiting the valves to alternately close the passages or the'third chamber and the'exhaust ports; of the first and second chambers.

4. A compressed air water elevatorinclucling a pair of water cylinders communicat ing with a source of supply 01 water,. each cylinder having a port for the intake and exhaust oi air, a casing associated with the water cylinders and having a plurality of chambers each provided with an air pressure intake and exhaust, valves for controlling said exhausts, means including a rotary element and a lever intermittently op erated= thereby for actuating said valves, a float in one of said cylinders for operating said rotary element, and means for accelerating the final upward and downward movemen of the float immediately prior to the actuation of said lever by said rotary element.

5. A compressed air water elevator including a pair of water cylinders communicating with a source of supply of water, each cylinder having a port for the intake and exhaust of air, a casing associated with the water cylinders and having a plurality of chambers each provided with an air pressure intake and exhaust, means for controlling said exhausts, a float in one of said cylinders for operating said means, and mechanism for accelerating the final upward and downward movement of the float immediately prior to the actuation of said means thereby, said mechanism embodying a wheel operatively connected to the float for rotation by the latter upon upward and downward movement of the same and embodying a portion of increased weight.

6. A compressed air water elevator comprising a pair of water cylinders communicating with a source of supply of water, valve mechanism mounted upon the cylinders for alternately controlling the supply and exhaust of compressed air to and from said cylinders, and a float in one of said cylinders operatively connected to the valve mechanism for actuating the latter, the operative connection between the float and the valve mechanism including a wheel rotated by the rise and fall of the float so as to turn in opposite directions, a depending lever movable to seat and unseat the valves of the valve mechanism, and an element carried by the wheel and engageable with the lever upon predetermined rotary movement of said wheel for shifting said lever.

7. A compressed air water elevator comprising' a pair of water cylinders communicating with a source of supply of water, valve mechanism mounted upon the cylinders for alternately controlling the supply and exhaust of compressed air to and from said cylinders, and a float in one of said cylinders operatively connected to the valve mechanism for actuating the latter, the operative connection between the float and the valve mechanism including a wheel rotated by the rise and fall off the float so as to turn in opposite directions, a depending lever movable to seat and unseat the valves of the valve mechanism, and an element carried by the wheel and engageable with the lever upon predetermined rotary movement of said wheel for shitting said lever, the element for engaging and shifting the lever being adjustable rotarily with respect to the wheel.

8. A compressed air water elevator comprising a pair of water cylinders communicating with a source of supply of water, valve mechanism mounted upon the cylinders for alternately controlling the supply and exhaust of compressed air to and from said cylinders, and a float in one of said cylinders operatively connected to the valve mechanism for actuating the latter, the operative connection between the float and the valve mechanism including a wheel rotated by the rise and fall of the float so as to turn in opposite directions, a depending lever movable to seat and unseat the valves of the valve mechanism, and an element carried by the wheel and engageable with the lever upon predetermined rotary movement of said wheel for shifting said lever, said wheel having a weighted portion arranged to accelerate rotation of the wheel immediately prior to engagement of the element with the lever for shifting the latter upon final upward or downward movement of the float.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

THEODORE PETERS. 

